How to Connect
Four steps from a fresh client to standing in Azeroth. If something goes wrong, the fix is almost certainly further down this page.
set realmlistlogon.eternion-wow.netThe four steps
In order. None of them take long.Get a client
Wrath of the Lich King 3.3.5a or Cataclysm 4.3.4. The launcher installs either one and keeps it patched, which is the shortest path by a long way.
Go to downloadsMake an account
One account, both realms. Registration is free and takes about thirty seconds.
RegisterPoint the client at us
Edit realmlist.wtf so it contains the single line below, and nothing else. The launcher and the Cataclysm client we ship already have this set.
Log in and pick a realm
Start the game, sign in, and choose Eternion for Wrath or Deathwing for Cataclysm at the realm screen.
Which realm is which
You pick at the realm screen, after logging in.The main realm. Custom content and scripted bosses.
The Cataclysm realm, with its own store currency and content.
When it will not connect
The five things that actually go wrong.The client says "Unable to connect"
Nine times out of ten realmlist.wtf is not the file the client is reading. There can be more than one copy: check the game folder root AND Data\enUS (or Data\enGB for a UK client).
Open every copy you find, delete everything in it, and paste the one line above. Save as plain text - not .txt.wtf, not rich text.
If the file will not save, right-click it, choose Properties, and untick Read-only.
It says my version is wrong, or the login screen looks like retail
You are on the wrong client build. Eternion needs 3.3.5a (build 12340) or 4.3.4 (build 15595). A modern Battle.net client will never connect.
Grab a clean client from the downloads page rather than patching an existing one up or down.
I get in, but I am missing models, icons or items
That is a missing custom patch. The patch MPQ files go in the Data folder next to the game, not in a subfolder.
The launcher fetches and updates these automatically. If you install by hand, grab them from the downloads page.
It says my account is already logged in
The realm still thinks your last session is alive. Wait about a minute and try again - it clears itself.
If it persists past a few minutes, ask in Discord and a GM can kick the stuck session.
The game crashes on launch or at the character screen
Delete the Cache folder in your game directory. The client rebuilds it on the next start, and a stale cache after a patch is the usual cause.
Do not delete anything inside Data - that is the game itself.
Run WoW.exe directly rather than through a shortcut, and if you are on Windows 11 try running it as administrator.
Post what the client says in Discord. Someone will have you playing in minutes.